May 28, 2012

Brockton, Massachusetts has a population of 93,810 and a crime index of 13 – 100 being the safest. If you lived in Massachusetts you would have a 1 in 214 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime and if you lived in Brockton, MA you would have a 1 in 86 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. The FBI collects information from 17,000 local law enforcements agencies and that is where they get the figures for these statements. In the last year Brockton has had 9 murders, 61 rapes, 243 robberies and 775 assaults. For every one thousand resident there are 42 of them that will be a victim. Brockton has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes. According to neighborhoodscout.com Brockton is number 58 in the top 100 most dangerous cities to live in.

PRnewswire.com reported in 2011 that under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative by federal, state and local authorities there were indictments unsealed and they were charging nine Brockton area men with different kinds of federal firearms and drug-related offenses. All of this was a result of a ten month investigation. When the investigation started their goal was to reduce drug activity and the number of guns available on the streets of Brockton. When these arrests were made they had picked up a total of 7 guns as well as a significant amount of ammunition and crack cocaine. The Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative makes prosecution of firearms cases a top priority. It provides a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun violence in America. When the US Attorney’s office put this program into effect there have been eleven cities across the state of Massachusetts, including Brockton, have joined in the program.

US Attorney General Sullivan praised the joint effort, he said, “The apprehension of these suspects demonstrates how communities can benefit from multi-jurisdictional investigations and information sharing. Community involvement, cooperation and good police work has ensured that guns will be kept out of our neighborhoods, away from our schools and playgrounds, and out of the hands of dangerous individuals.” Let’s hope as well that the folks whom these criminals got hooked on crack and cocaine got help from one of the local Boston drug rehabs.

Colonel Robbins of the Massachusetts State Police said, “It is important to recognize that cooperation among police agencies and prosecutors at all levels results in a positive impact on the quality of life of the citizens we all serve.”

Gun violence goes hand in hand with drugs and addiction. That is why these people have the guns. Drugs affect our lives in many ways and street violence is one of them. If you know someone who wants to get off drugs get them to an inpatient treatment center or one of the inhalant abuse rehabs where they can get safe and natural ways to detox and withdraw. Something can be done about it.